Breville BSB530XL Processing Station Review

So Many Things In One Process

We live in a society that seeks instant gratification. When we need something, we want to get all of the pieces and parts for the project in one place, even if that means sacrificing some of the perks of a higher-end option. I needed to buy a printer not that long ago, but a simple printer just wouldn’t work. I needed all the bells and whistles, but buying them all separately seemed like a chore, and they would take up so much room. What I found was that to get the best of everything in an all-in-one machine, I was going to have to spend big money. I could get an all-in-one at a more reasonable price, which would do a pretty good job of everything, but there was always a chance I would have to spend more money later on to get the best of the one thing I really needed.

Decisions.

Anyway, that’s how I feel about searching for an all-in-one kitchen appliance solution. I have found some great independent units. And I have found some all-in-one-box options that do a really good job, but maybe not a great job. So what’s more important — the convenience or the abilities?

Is There Anything That Can Do It All?

Is there any one box that has it all and can do it all as well as the specialized, higher end appliances? That’s what I’m hoping the Breville BSB530XL, called the All In One Processing Station, can do. The pictures of this set make it look like it can do everything under the sun. Let’s see if it delivers.

It Certainly Looks Different

I’m sure that you’ve seen a food processor or ten before. They all kind of look the same. They have the bowl that sits on the base where the motor is neatly tucked away. The motor reaches up through the center to work whichever blade or cutter you have attached to the base. You hit a button and everything spins. Sounds pretty simple. Well, that’s not how this one works. Like, not at all. There are SO MANY other things going on here. Instead of working from the bottom, the attachments work from the top. There are places where you can insert them once you have your bowl filled, and the motor is basically in your hand. You fill the bowl, hook on the handle, and get to processing or blending or slicing or making julienne fries.

It Really Can Do All That

I wasn’t just being silly. If there is something you want to do with food prep, there’s a good chance that this all-in-one can do it. It has a crazy number of attachments. There’s the processing handle that works with the little blade that comes with most processors. Then, there’s an immersion blender that works with the processing bowl to give you control over how and when you blend. There’s a slicer attachment with 19 different settings for thickness. NINETEEN. There’s also a whisk attachment and, if you’re looking for perfect mashed potatoes, there’s an attachment for that too. And each different tool comes with its own settings so the options are almost endless.

Crush It

Crushing ice can be kind of harsh on blades, and if you don’t move quickly enough, you end up with crushed water. That’s why not all devices can be used for crushing ice, but the BSB530XL can, and it was made to work through your ice all quick-like so you can get to sipping as quickly as you want.

A Lot For The Money

There are a lot of options here. A lot. I expected this to cost a huge amount, but it really doesn’t. It’s priced slightly above comparable processors with fewer options, but it’s not terribly expensive either. You really get a lot of different options all in one box, and they seem to stand on their own pretty well too.

Not Huge

If you’re looking for the end all be all processor for making huge meals, this isn’t the one for you. It’s not that this doesn’t do a lot, but with just a 6 cup bowl, it’s much better suited for families than armies. If you need more than that, the Ninja Mega Kitchen System I reviewed here would be a better choice, although it isn’t exactly huge either. If you need huge, then go for the Breville Sous Chef.

Hot and Heavy

The motor on this processor is powerful for the size, but like most powerful motors, it can run hot and need time to cool down. If it is used consistently, it will overheat. However, most people don’t run their food processors all the time, and even if you are working on a large cooking project, it will have breaks while you are working on other aspects of the meal. A professional chef or baker will probably burn the motor out on this model, but I don’t think it will be a major issue for people who use it in a typical manner.

Keep It On The Bottom

It looks like the food processor on this does not have enough oomph to work through a whole lot of food. It’s small already, but beyond that, it does not work through the whole bowl if you fill it up. That may prove to be inconvenient at times, but 6 cups is quite a bit of food, so you’ll want to consider how often you’re going to actually fill the bowl. If you make tons of food for parties on a regular basis, it could be a problem, but you may want to check it out for yourself before deciding whether or not it’s large enough for your typical use.

Use It Small

This all-in-one kind of follows the trend that I’ve noticed. It does a decent job at a lot of things rather than doing a great job at the major task most people are buying it for. Well, that’s not exactly right, it does do a great job at slicing, dicing and processing as well, but only if you don’t fill it to maximum capacity. If you consider this 6-Cup processor a 5-Cup processor, it’s perfect. Plus, of course, you have the added benefit of blending and crushing ice, among other things. So if you’re looking for an all-in-one with a lot of different options that will work well for small families, this is exactly what you’ve been looking for.

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